Automatic danger signal



April 3, 1934. .1. w. WELLS AUTOMATIC DANGER SIGNAL Filed May 5. i931 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 gwvwntoz 1 Walls April 3, 1934.

J. W. WELLS AUTOMATIC DANGER SIGNAL Filed May 5, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 gn uwntov Ill-Nell April 1934- J. w. WELLS I 1,953,546

AUTOMATIC DANGER S IGNAL Filed May 5. 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ,Btlile7'7 gwmwtoz J: wwezz an mu Patented Apr. 3, 1934 AUTOMATIC DANGER SIGNAL John W. Wells, Sourlake, Tex.

Application May 5, 1931, Serial No. 535,205

3Claims.

This invention relates to warning or danger signals designed to be used on roadways for warm ing motor traffic of the proximity of a narrow bridge, culvert, curve or other danger point for.

which the motorist should slow up, and more specifically to a structure of this kind including an illuminated sign with means disposed in advance of the danger point whereby the sign will become automatically illuminated as the car is driven over the roadway.

A further object is to provide means for automatically discontinuing the illumination of the sign after a predetermined period.

A further object is to provide a construction 5 of this character which includes the use of an air pressure operated switch controlling the sign and preferably also controlling a signal which is operated by the pressure of air caused by an object as an automobile passing over an opening in the roadway.

Other objects will appear in the course of the following description.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:--

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a roadway showing my danger signal in position therein;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the signal actuating means;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view through the controlling mechanism, the signal operating mechanism and the housing within which it is contained.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic elevation of a gas burner and the actuating means therefor.

Referring to Figure 1, A designates a relatively narrow bridge which is illustrative of any dangerous point on a roadway such as'a curve, culvert or the like and on approaching which the motorist should slow up. B designates a point along the roadway considerably in advance of the danger point and at which point is located the structure shown in Figure 2.

Referring now to Figure 2, 10 designates the roadway itself and 11 a tube or pipe extending downward from the roadway and having any suitable diameter, as for instance, the diameter approximately equal to that of an automobile tire. The lower end of the pipe is connected to a T 12 which in turn is connected to a downwardly extending pipe 13 which may extend into the earth to any convenient degree for the purpose of affording a firm and solid support to the pipe 11.

Extending from the pipe 12 into a valve casing 14 is a pipe section 15 and extending from the casing 14 is a pipe section 16 whereby to permit the passage of air out of the end of the casing 14 opposite the swinging member 17. Swingingly mounted within the casing 14 is a vane or disk 17 which is shown as being provided with a pintle 13 having tapered ends supported in the screws 19.

Any other suitable means for pivotally mounting this disk 17 may be used, the object being to secure a perfectly free movement of this disk. This disk carries at its upper end, the contact 20 associated with but normally spaced from the contact 21. When a motorist passes along the road, his wheels passingnear or over the opening of pipe 11 will cause a compression of the air inside of the pipe 11 and this puff of air will impinge against the swinging disk 17, causing the disk to swing toward the right in Figure 2, thus bringing the contact 20 into electrical engagement with the contact 21. The disk is sumciently heavy so that as soon as this electrical engagement is made, the disk will return toits normal position. v

In Figure 4, I have illustrated the operating mechanism for the signal and sign. This mechanism is housed within the casing 22 which is secured to the roadway in any suitable manner and which at its upper end is provided with a bullseye and an electric light 23. Disposed within the casing is a switch board 24 supporting upon it the electro-magnets 25. Disposed below the poles of the electro-magnet is an armature 26 urged downward by a spring 27. When the magnets are energized, the armature will be drawn upward and will pass the nose or detent end of a pivoted latch 28 pivoted at 29. This latch is urged inward or toward the armature by a spring 30, a bolt 31 or other limiting means acting to limit the inward movement of the latch to the position shown in Figure 4. The lower face of the latch is beveled so that when the armature 26 is lifted by the electro-magnet 25, the end of the armature will pass the beveled nose of the latch and rest upon the detent tooth 32.

Attached to the latch is an extension 33 which bears against one end of a thermostat designated generally 34. This thermostat may be any electrically heated thermostat wired in parallel with the light 41 and the lights on the sign boards. This thermostat is shown as formed of two bulbs and is expanslble in the usual manner under the influence of current and contracts when the current is cut ofi and the heat or warmth is reduced. A battery or other source of current designated generally 35 is used shown as disposed within the casing 22. The contact 21 is connected by the wire 36 to the windings of the electro-magnet 25. From these windings a return wire 37 extends to one pole of the battery. The other pole of the battery is connected by a wire 38 to the contact 20. It will, therefore, be obvious that when the contact 20 engages the contact 21 a circuit will be completed through the electro-magnet which will raise the armature and engage it with the latch, as before stated. The armature 26 is connected by a wire 39 or other conductor to the wire 37 while the latch at its pivotal end is connected by a wire 40 to the electric lamp 41 and from this electric lamp extends a return wire 42 which is connected by a wire 43 to one pole of the battery.

It will thus be seenthat when the armature is raised, the light 41 will be connected in circuit with the battery and the lamp 41 will be energized. The current passing to the energized lamp will cause the expansion of the thermostat 34 which, after a predetermined time, will shift the latch 28 against the action of the spring 30 away from the armature 26 and permit the armature to drop into engagement with a stop 44, thus breaking the circuit through the lamp.

Connected in parallel with the lamp 41 by means of the wires 42 and 45 are the electric lights 46 of an illuminated sign 47.

The sign may, of course, be transparent or translucent and the lights be disposed behind the sign, but in the illustration they are shown as lights mounted upon the frame of the sign and illuminating the face of the sign. This sign may have on it either the word Danger, an arrow pointing toward the dangerous point or may have on it advertising matter but whether it is advertising matter or not the sign should constitute a particular striking warning which will attract the motorists attention. Of course, it will be understood that this sign may be disposed and preferably will be disposed a sufiicient distance in advance of the bridge or other danger point so that the motorists attention will be attracted to the sign a sufficient distance ahead of the danger point for the motorist to receive due warning and make proper provision for the narrow bridge, culvert, curve or whatever it is he is liable to meet.

The signal lamp 23 is preferably disposed immediately adjacent the danger point as for instance upon the beginning' of a sharp curve, at the entrance of a bridge or culvert, etc. The thermostat will hold the circuit through the signal lamp 23 and through the lamps 46 a sulficient length of time for the motorist to arrive at the danger point and pass it before the signal will be released. Of course, it will be understood that a like danger signal may be placed on the other side of the bridge, culvert or curve to warn motorists coming in the opposite direction.

A relatively large sign suddenly becoming illuminated will be sure to attract the motorists attention and will act as a certain warning of danger ahead and will do this much more effectively than would a relatively small danger signal set beside the road which may or may not be noticed by the driver. Inasmuch as the lamps are lighted only when a car approaches, the danger point, relatively great economy is secured and furthermore the sudden illumination of the sign will add to its effectiveness.

Of course, it will be understood that the danger sign and signal are not necessary under all circumstances, as for instance when a car is going at a relatively slow speed, as for instance under twenty miles an hour as this danger signal is particularly intended for fast and dangerous travel as the greater the speed of the car, the more impulse will be given to the disk 1'7 causing the closing 'of the circuit through the signal and sign.

In Figure 5 I illustrate how the electrical controlling device may be used to operate a gas jet in the danger signal or for illuminating the sign. In this figure, 46 designates a gas jet connected to any suitable source of gas and having a valve 4'? controlled by a lever 48 normally held in a position to close the valve by a spring 49. A constantly burning pilot light 50 is disposed adjacent the gas jet. In this case, the wires 40 and 42 in the case of the danger signal or wires 41 and 45 in the case of the sign illuminating elements are connected to an electromagnet 51 of which the lever 48 constitutes the armature. When current passes through this magnet 51 by the closing of the armature 26, the lever 48 will be actuated, the valve 47 will be opened, the gas will be ignited by the pilot light 50. The heat of the gas will operate the thermostat 34 which will be located in such relation to the gas burner that it will be affected by the heat therefrom. The thermostat in this case will be an ordinary bulb thermostat which will in time release the armature 26 as previously described and break the circuit through the magnet 51, thus causing the closing of the valve under the action of the spring 49.

It will thus be seen that I do not wish to be limited to the use of electrical means for illuminating either the danger signal or the sign board. This gas may be taken from gas lines, gas drums or bottles.

Attention is called to the fact that the pipe 13 which constitutes a downward extension from the T 12 not only gives a firm support to the pipe 11 but also acts to catch any dirt, gravel or other trash that might drop down this pipe 11 and would otherwise stop up the T 12 or the pipe 15. While I have heretofore referred to this device as being used for operating danger signals on highways, it will be understood that it might be used on any roadway or railway line. Obviously the greater the rapidity of the vehicle passing over or adjacent to the opening of the pipe 11, the greater will be the impulse of air.

While I have illustrated certain details of construction which I believe to be effective for the purpose intended, I do not wish to be limited thereto, as certain changes might be made in the details without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:-

1. A signal actuating device for highways comprising a tubular member open at its upper end and extending downward from the surface of the highway, the upper open end being designed to be traversed by the wheel of the vehicle, a easing into which said tubular member opens, a swinging disk mounted within the casing and designed to receive air impulses from the tubular member when a vehicle wheel tranverses the upper open end of the tubular member to thereby cause the disk to swing in one direction, and means on the disk closing a circuit through a signal when the disk is swung in said direction by the air impulse.

2. A signal actuating device for highways comprising a tubular member extending downward from the roadway and open at its upper end upon the surface of the roadway, a casing into which the tubular member opens, a swinging disk mounted within the casing and designed to receive air impulses from said member due to the passage of a vehicle over the open upper end of the tubular member, a fixed contact mounted on the casing, and a movable contact carried by the disk, a signal and a circuit therefor having a source of current, the fixed and movable contacts being connected in said circuit, said contacts being out of engagement with each other when the disk is in a normal position, but being brought into electrical engagement with each other when the disk is swung in one direction under an air impulse.

3. A signal actuating device for roadways comprising a tubular duct extending downward from the roadway and opening at its upper end upon the surface thereof, a signal and a signal actuating means disposed in the duct and shiftable to a signal actuating position by the impact of air through said duct caused by the passage of a wheel over the open end of the duct, said means when shifted by the impact of air, actuating said signal.

JOHN W. WELLS. 

